Funds raised for final festival

AS the clock winds down to the last ever Bendigo Blues and Roots Music Festival, artists took to the Golden Vine Hotel last Sunday for the annual winter fundraiser.

Flora, Funk Junkies, Grim Fawkner, Mariah McCarthy Trio and more had the pub rocking all day for the final event, which raises money to ensure the festival can run.

The Blues and Roots team announced last week the 10th BB&RMF would be the last, citing a much-needed break for volunteers as the main reason.

“The dedicated committee and crew who’ve made the event happen each November, outside of pandemic-affected years, since 2011 are in need of a rest, especially after working tirelessly for three years trying to bring the 10th anniversary event to fruition,” a statement from organisers said.

“In that time, 2020 and 2021, even when they couldn’t stage the full-blown festival, which consistently features over 100 acts playing in around 50 venues over a four-day program, the BB&RMF team has still found ways to provide paid work for artists and production crews.

“They may have learned a lot about running online events and keeping connected to their audience in alternative ways since 2019, but the crew is excited to finally be able to stage BB&RMF number 10 in November 2022, for thousands of happy punters, after such a long but unavoidable wait.”

Singer songwriter Mariah McCarthy said while the news was disappointing, it’s understandable.

“I’m disappointed but not at them,” she said. “I’m going to miss it a lot, but I can see that these are people who are working full time and doing this as well, you can’t sustain that. I’ll miss it a lot and I’m hoping in some way it’s able to continue.”

McCarthy performed at the very first Blues and Roots festival and has played every year since.

“It’s definitely been a platform to get your music out to a wider audience,” she said.

“[Festival director Colin Thompson] has created an environment where there’s gigs like this throughout the year, but what’s special about the festival is it brings so many more people to the town… that might not see you in any other circumstance.

“I think everyone’s really excited for it, because we haven’t had it properly for two, three years, everyone’s excited for it and it will be a bit emotional.”